Retired U.S. Navy officer declines award for presentation at Saints game due to recent protests

Retired U.S. Navy officer declines award for presentation at Saints game due to recent protests

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Updated: 1:18 PM CDT Nov 2, 2017

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WEBVTT YOUR FIRST AMENDMENTrt RIGHTS.>> ♪ RAMPARTS WE'D WATCH WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING♪ ♪>>rt THAT'S A TOTAL DISRESPECT OFOUR HERITAGE.THAT'S A TOTAL DISRESPECT OFEVERYTHING WE STAND FOR. >> THE RIGHT TO DISSENT ISPATRIOTIC. JULIANA: IT'S BEEN TWO DAYS ANrtDTHE DEBATE ONLY GROWS DEEPER,SINCE 10 SAINTS PLAYERS TOOK ASEAT DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.>> I FOUGHT FOR OUR FIRSTrtAMENDMENT, T RIGHT TO FREEDOMOF SPEEC, SO THEY SAID, HOW DOYOU FEEL ABOUT IT?rtIT'S NOT DISRESPECTING ME. >> IF YOU WANT TO PROTEST ANDYOU WANT TO MAKE SOME KIND OF ASTATEMENT, THAT'S FINE. JUST DON'T DO IT WHILE I'MTRYING TO BE ENTERTAINED BYFOOTBALL.IT'S VERY DISRESPECTFUL. JULIANA:rt AND IS WHAT SOME CALLDISRESPECT ENOUGH TO IMPACT THESAINTS FAN BASE?BLACK AND GOLD IS A SAINTSMERCHANDISE RETAILER INMETAIRIE.rtTHEY SAID THEY HAVEN'T NOTICED ADECLINE IN SALES, BUT SAID THISIS A VERY TOUGH TIME FOR WHO DATNATION.>> THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MrtAD, LIKEI SAID BEFORE, THEY ARE TRUESAINTS FANS.THEY HATE TO THINK THEY ARE NOTGOING TO TURN ON THE TV.THEY HATE TO SAY THAT.WHETHER THEY DO IT OR NOT,THAT'S THEIR RIGHT.rtJULIANA: JUST AS THE ACLU SAIDIT'S PLAYERS' RIGHTS TO EXERCISETHE FIRST AMENDMENT.>>rt SO TO SAY THAT WE AREDISRESPECTING THE MILITARY IF WEDISSENT IS TO TURN OUR SYSTEM OF

Retired U.S. Navy officer declines award for presentation at Saints game due to recent protests

A retired U.S. Navy officer announced Wednesday that he declined an award that would be given to him in his honor at Sunday's New Orleans Saints game because of the recent controversy surrounding the national anthem.

Cmdr. John Wells was selected for a Peoples Health Champion Award, which would have been presented at Sunday's game in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The award is given to people who have "significant accomplishments" and have reached "senior citizen status."

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Wells, who is the executive director of Military Veterans Advocacy in Slidell, said he declined the award because of the ongoing controversy with the NFL and some players protesting during the National Anthem.

"I am unable, in good conscience, to enter an NFL stadium while this discourtesy prevails," Wells wrote to executives of Peoples Health and the Saints.

Wells called the award "tainted with dishonorable actions" by the NFL and its players. He said accepting the award would be hypocritical.

"I had hoped and prayed that the NFL would outlaw these disgraceful protests and wanted to give the commissioner and the owners a fair opportunity to do so. Their failure to act is a slap in the face to all of those who have served in uniform. Men and women have fought and died for the flag that the players are disrespecting," he said.

In a letter to team executives in October, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said, "We believe that everyone should stand for the National Anthem," and that the issue of player protests will be addressed during next week's fall meeting.

The practice of players kneeling or sitting during the national anthem has grown since former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began doing it last season to protest racial injustice and police brutality. While there are fans, including military members, who respect the actions of protesting players, many others are disgusted -- booing loudly, burning jerseys and even selling off their tickets.

Management for the Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans issued a statement in September in support of the players and those who have served in the military. Tom Benson, Saints and Pelicans owner, said in a statement that he believes that the very players who represent the Saints and Pelicans organizations should be allowed to share or express their feelings.

Team quarterback Drew Brees tweeted in September that "as a way to show respect to all, our Saints team will kneel in solidarity prior to the national anthem and stand together during the anthem."

The NFL has no explicit rule requiring players to stand during the anthem, though its gameday operations manual says they "should."

Wells's group is a national organization based out of Slidell. Military Veterans Advocacy works in the interest of veterans and active-duty military personnel.

During his career, Wells has testified before U.S. Congress in support of veterans' benefits and has litigated benefits issues in several federal courts. He was recently award the Distinguished Military Honor Award by Folds of Honor.